Smithsonian Secretary Dr. Lonnie G. Bunch III
In a message to staff sent Friday morning, Smithsonian Secretary Dr. Lonnie G. Bunch III acknowledged the executive order while emphasizing the institution's commitment to scholarly independence.
"As an Institution, our commitment to scholarship and research is unwavering and will always serve as the guiding light for our content," Bunch wrote in the memo. "Late yesterday, the White House issued a presidential Executive Order (EO) related to cultural institutions including the Smithsonian."
The executive order specifically tasks Vice President Vance, who serves as an ex-officio member of the Smithsonian's Board of Regents, with working alongside the board on content-related matters. The exact parameters of this oversight were not detailed in Bunch's communication.
Bunch, who has led the Smithsonian since 2019 and previously served as the founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, stressed that the institution would maintain its established review processes.
"We will continue to showcase world-class exhibits, collections, and objects, rooted in expertise and accuracy," Bunch wrote. "We will continue to employ our internal review processes which keep us accountable to the public. When we err, we adjust, pivot, and learn as needed."
The Smithsonian's leadership structure includes a 17-member Board of Regents consisting of the Chief Justice of the United States, the Vice President, six members of Congress, and nine citizens. This governance model has remained largely unchanged throughout the institution's 178-year history.
